Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

About Deborah Wilhelm

Dr. Deborah Wilhelm is the author, with Bishop Sylvester Ryan, of Preaching Matters: A Praxis for Preachers (Paul Bechtold Theological Library). An active preacher, teacher, writer, retreat leader, and Camaldolese Benedictine Oblate, she holds a D.Min. in preaching from the Aquinas Institute of Theology. She has taught theology, presiding, and preaching for the Loyola Institute for Ministry; preaching for the Aquinas Institute of Theology, for Santa Clara University, and for the Diocese of Monterey (California); and writing at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She lives and prays with her family among the rivers, trees, and blackberry vines of rural Oregon.